Tulsa World: OSU building on '07 Tech win

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OSU building on '07 Tech win
Cowboys are 13-5 since Mike Gundy followed wild win over Texas Tech with infamous rant.

TURNAROUND
Mike Gundy: Has led Cowboys to 8-1 record this season.

By MATT DOYLE World Sports Writer
Published: 11/7/2008 2:11 AM
Last Modified: 11/7/2008 3:11 AM

Cowboys are 13-5 since Mike Gundy followed wild win over Texas Tech with infamous rant.

Wild and crazy were just two descriptive terms applied to the on-field action in Oklahoma State's victory against Texas Tech last season.

Wild and crazy also could apply to what happened in the minutes following the Cowboys' 49-45 victory.

OSU coach Mike Gundy did not take questions at his postgame press conference that day. Instead, Gundy spent more than three minutes angrily defending backup quarterback Bobby Reid after a newspaper article published that morning questioned Reid's toughness.

What Gundy did not mention on Sept. 22, 2007, but learned as time passed, was that victory over Tech was a turning point for his team. And more importantly, Gundy learned what he had in Reid's replacement, Zac Robinson.

Texas Tech coach Mike Leach's postgame press conference that late afternoon was loud and direct as well. But it set the stage for the Red Raiders' immediate future. Leach called his offense a "bunch of front-runners" and said his defense looked like it wanted to pout after getting hit in the mouth repeatedly that day.

Leach shook up the lackadaisical defensive unit by dismissing coordinator Lyle Setencich the day after the OSU loss. Despite his critical analysis, Leach knew he had a potent offense. He also would learn that he had a pretty capable defense, which leads the Big 12 in total defense at 349.6 yards a game this season.

The perception of both the OSU and Texas Tech programs today are vastly different and more favorable entering their showdown Saturday night at Lubbock, Texas.

OSU is 8-1 and ranked eighth in the Associated Press and USA Today coaches poll and ninth in the Bowl Championship Series standings. Tech is 9-0 and ranked second in AP and BCS, and third in the coaches poll.

Followers of college football found out a year ago Gundy's age and that was he was a man. Today, they are learning he is a coach of a pretty good football team.

The Cowboys have gone 13-5 since winning last year's game against Tech.

"When you get a big win like that in the last minute, that's something you can build on," senior cornerback Jacob Lacey said. "We've been able to carry that over each week and take us to where we are now."

Robinson received the biggest confidence boost from the game.

The quarterback made his second career start that day amid debate whether he or Reid should be the starter. Gundy wanted to avoid playing musical chairs with the quarterback job. Robinson was not sure how long the starting job would be his.

"I needed to go out and perform," he said.

Robinson's performance cemented his place as starter. He accounted for 327 yards total offense and four touchdowns in the victory. He finished the year as OSU's single-season total offense record holder.

The performance by Robinson and the OSU offense was splendid.

From Leach's perspective, Tech's defensive performance against OSU was simply unacceptable.

Red Raiders defensive back Darcel McBath said he was sick to his stomach because of the defensive showing. Other Tech teammates were in tears. They were all shocked the next day when Setencich was removed and defensive tackles coach Ruffin McNeill was promoted to coordinator.

"We let our team down. We let Texas Tech down," McBath said.

Under McNeill's direction, Tech's defense has not been a letdown. The group showed improvement throughout the remainder of the 2007 season to finish third in total defense in the league at 365.4 yards.

This year, Texas Tech is 10th nationally against the rush. It was 82nd at the end of last year.

Leach credits McNeill as the source of improvement and change in perception.

"He's inspired the whole group and they are passionate about what he has taught them," Leach said. "I think our whole team has drawn from our defense."

Matt Doyle 581-8316
matt.doyle@tulsaworld.com

2007 REWIND

A quick look at the numbers from OSU’s 49-45 victory last year against Texas Tech

1,328 Combined total offense yardage for both teams

182 Offensive plays for both teams

4 Punts in the game

646 Texas Tech QB Graham Harrell’s passing yardage

327 OSU QB Zac Robinson’s total offense yardage

14 Catches for both Tech receivers Michael Crabtree and Danny Amendola

3 OSU 100-yard rushers (Robinson, Kendall Hunter, Dantrell Savage)

4:02 Amount of time it took to play the game

By MATT DOYLE World Sports Writer

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	Report Comment Dr. Strangelove, Tulsa (11/7/2008 8:12:15 AM) I like the Cowboy's chances tomorrow- GO POKES!!!!!!!!!!!
	Report Comment toyourdismay, Tulsa (11/7/2008 8:24:41 AM) Me too, Doc! Can't wait for this game. GO POKES.
	Report Comment sodypoke, (11/7/2008 10:48:52 AM) RIDEM!
	Report Comment big daddy, (11/7/2008 12:22:49 PM) Get your Guns Up. Go Tech.

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